Statement of Purpose
Since there is a substantial and continuously growing interest in women’s sports amongst viewers, it is suggested to justify the creation of ESPNW, a dedicated platform for women’s sports within the ESPN Network that can tap into a growing market, engage a passionate fan base, and position itself as the leading destination for comprehensive sports coverage.
- Question 1: How can ESPNW’s launch tap into the growing market of viewers interested in women’s sports?
- Question 2: Why is it significant for ESPN to establish itself as the top platform for all-encompassing sports coverage by creating ESPNW?
- Question 3: What strategies can ESPNW employ to engage and cultivate a passionate fan base in this context?
- Question 4: How can ESPNW address and overcome the barriers and challenges restricting females from progressing in the field?
- Question 5: How can ESPNW impact challenging and reshaping the deep-rooted ideological structures?
Broad Subject
Women’s sports coverage.
Statement of Purpose for the Recommendation Report
The problem of inadequate media coverage of women’s sports can be addressed by launching ESPNW, which should be justified and planned appropriately.
Annotated Bibliography
Romney, M., & Johnson, R. G. (2019). The ball game is for the boys: The visual framing of female athletes on National Sports Networks’ Instagram accounts. Communication & Sport, 8(6), 738–756. Web.
The source connects to the report’s purpose by examining the stagnant media coverage of female athletics despite the growth of their participation in sports. It supports the argument by stressing the gender disparities and stereotypes reinforced in sports journalism organizations, including major American sports networks. The quality of the study is reliable as it involves an analysis of a substantial sample size of 1,587 Instagram images from the primary accounts of major American sports networks. The investigation focuses on the treatment of female athletes in sports journalism and provides empirical data to support the findings of minimal coverage and reinforcement of gender stereotypes. It will be used to show evidence of the gender disparities in media coverage of female athletics, specifically through the analysis of Instagram images.
Milanis, A. (2021). Changing the game: A critical media analysis of ESPN and espnW. Uwindsor. Web.
The source aligns with the report’s purpose by analyzing ESPN’s launch of ESPNW and investigating how female athletes are portrayed in sports media. It helps support the argument for ESPN to establish ESPNW as a dedicated platform for the field by highlighting the ongoing need for an improved media approach and opportunities for females in sports. The information’s quality appears reliable as it references Barthes’s myth concept and incorporates critical analysis of ESPN and ESPNW’s Instagram content.
The study also cites relevant literature on ‘popular feminism’ and ‘popular misogyny’. The investigation will be used to attain the goals of the report by providing evidence of the ideological underpinnings of representations of women athletes and the existence of popular feminism and misogyny in the sports media. It will help support the purpose as a means to challenge and address these ideological structures and barriers that restrict females’ progress within the scope given.
Fraidenburg, K., & Backstrom, L. (2021). Separate and unequal? Representations of sportswomen on ESPNW’s and ESPN’s Instagram. International Journal of Sport Communication, 14(2), 168–194. Web.
The source connects to the report’s purpose by examining the presence of sportswomen on ESPN’s and ESPNW’s Instagram accounts, which aligns with the focus on ESPNW as a dedicated platform for women’s sports. The study provides insights into whether these representations uphold or challenge masculine domination, contributing to the argument for creating ESPNW to address potential gender disparities. The information’s quality appears reliable as it involves content analysis of Instagram posts from ESPN and ESPNW. The sample size of 370 posts featuring sportswomen and 205 posts featuring nonathlete women adds credibility to the findings. The publication will be used to attain the report’s goals by providing evidence of how representations of sportswomen on social media contribute to the maintenance or challenge of masculine domination in the context.
Wolter, S. (2020). A longitudinal analysis of espnW: Almost 10 years of challenging hegemonic masculinity. Communication & Sport, 9(5), 718–741. Web.
The source connects to the purpose of the report by analyzing the role of espnW, as the primary multiplatform business of ESPN, Inc., in shaping the media narrative of female athletes. It supports the argument for the launch of ESPNW by providing longitudinal data on how ESPNW engages and inspires women and presents female athletes as serious competitors. The quality of the source information appears to be reliable as it involves a longitudinal examination of a substantial amount of data, including 1,881 photographs and 1,966 articles from the ESPNW website. The publication will be used to attain the report’s goals by presenting evidence of how ESPNW shapes the media narrative of female athletes through its digital, television, radio, film, event, educational platform, and social media content.
Spencer, E. A., & Limperos, A. M. (2018). ESPN’s coverage of intimate partner violence in the National Football League. Communication & Sport, 8(1), 3–25. Web.
The source connects to the goal of the report by examining how the media, specifically ESPN, covers sociocultural issues related to sports, including intimate partner violence (IPV) committed by NFL players. It supports the argument for ESPN to launch ESPNW by highlighting the media’s responsibility to frame and address such issues. The quality seems reliable as it employs qualitative textual analysis to examine ESPN’s website coverage of IPV incidents involving NFL players. The study will attain the report’s goals by showcasing the importance of media framing and coverage of sociocultural issues, including IPV in the context of sports.
Ancheta, A. S., Peet, J., Abuyen, A., & Shifflett, B. (2020). Gender balance in ESPN and ESPN content. Journal of Kinesiology & Wellness, 9, 13–20. Web.
The source connects to the report’s purpose by examining the coverage of women’s sports and the potential imbalance in coverage between ESPN and ESPNW. It supports the argument by highlighting the persistence of disproportionate coverage despite the presence of espnW. The quality of the information seems reliable as it involves a content analysis conducted by pairs of researchers. The study analyzes top headlines/stories, buzz articles, and photos on ESPN and ESPN over a specific period, providing empirical data to assess the extent of gender imbalance in content coverage. The piece will offer evidence of the gender imbalance in coverage between ESPN and ESPNW.